Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Embers in the Night...

Coming back to Indiana is always a transition...of geography, work, friends, activities, and family.

I unpack my suitcase and find pieces of Ocracoke scattered within...a seashell, pockets of sand, or even just the sweet smell of salt and sea.

When I returned home, my house was full of arriving children and it was good to be met by those I love. I have three grown sons who have scattered like the wind, I think they received the gift of wanderlust from their mother.

For three days the house was full of noise, family, children and plenty of dishes!

Just like that they returned, except for Aaron who lives with his wife Karen and the two grandchildren just a block away. We are able to see each other's houses which is always fun for me.

Living in Indiana is not the same as Ocracoke...but it is home. My House at White Picket Gardens is aptly named because of my wooden picket fence and multitudes of flowers. The gardens are in full bloom now as well as the vegetable garden and raspberries.

When I left for Ocracoke we had a fire burn in place so my campfires came to a halt. However with the summer rain of August, all is green and lush and the ban has been lifted.

Last night around 9:00 I decided to build a campfire. The sparks and embers cracked and popped under a sky of stars and towering trees. Within minutes my driveway was a parking lot for bikes. The children just kept coming.

My neighborhood is one of the last old neighborhoods. Children play outside until their parents call them in, and that is usually when the parents want to go to bed. The kids spend each moment outside. They gather rocks, play kickball in the field, let ice cream drip on the pavement, and let the sun of summer turn their winter skin to gold.

As the kids kept coming, I lit candles around the garden, and pulled out the bags of marshmallows from the kitchen. A ring of children circled the fire as we roasted the marshmallows and told ghost stories. They told me tales about the haunted houses in the neighborhood, their eyes wide open, and faced nodding in agreement.

I just kept passing around marshmallows and agreeing with them. Who would want to live in a neighborhood without a haunted house here and there?

The embers burned low around 11, and each one got back on his/her bike and meandered off into the darkness toward home. I am sure none of them had a shower or a bath, but instead went to sleep with summer dirt on their bare feet and sticky fingers from the marshmallows. But does it really matter?

Tomorrow school starts for my neighborhood so last night was our farewell to summer nights. All I hope is that when they are grown, they have fond memories of biking off into the night, playing ball in the dirt field, and having parents who let them grow up outside one sunny day at a time.

Thanks to all the children who make my life sweet and happy back home in Indiana.

4 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Very wonderfull Lou Ann , you made me feel the children joy and freedom , and they will remember , we do , don't we , it is everlasting child heart I pray for , it is exciting to know that now you turn again into being a teacher !?! It never ends , does it !? Good for you and others ... How sweet to have your cherished sons welcoming you home ...micky

I love this, Lou Ann. You brought back memories of growing up in my hometown, Albion. We played kick-the-can and rode our bikes all over town, including through the cemetery -- that's a story I'll have to tell someday! Congrats on teaching at Trine. I'd love to sit in on one of your classes.

Hi Lou Ann: It's Jane from Ocracoke last week. My mother and I had so much fun meeting you and going to all those wonderful Ocracoke activities. I am still smiling from your news show at the Opry with Philip. I am also playing my Molasses Creek CD over and over. Thanks for your company that week. Glad to hear you got back okay and are already into the swing of your life in Indiana. - Jane

Thank you for the nice comments. It is nice to have connections across the country...across the world. Ingrid, I loved those games and my neighborhood is pretty good with those now as you read. Jane, I loved meeting you and Bobby and spending time with you as well. Micky...until we meet.

What's happening in my hometown this week?

There continues to be music on the square and just about everywhere else this weekend. Friday night John Getz is playing at Chapman's Brewery and the Goat Beards are at Six Autumns. Saturday afternoon is the kick off for the Ecological 200 year old party at Wing Haven. This is a hands on event for everywhere! Again there is music at Briali's on Sunday. Wherever you are get out and enjoy this weekend!!

And how can you get in contact with me??

This is my hometown, Angola, Indiana. I am there a lot, but I am gone a lot too. You can reach me at 260-312-7225 or my email address: locketoftime@aol.com. This summer I am telling stories in libraries and festivals, teaching drama camps, and hosting my Ariizona family! I am taking the month of August off to get ready for the school year and do some traveling of my own!! If you are looking to book in the fall, the dates arer filling up quickly so let's talk soon.

And the teaching continues....

A few years ago Dr. Timothy Hopp called me out of the blue. he asked if I would be interested in teaching a few classes at Trine. I really wasn't sure as I had just left public school and had other ideas that I was thinking about doing, but I decided to give it a try. I can't imagine my life without it now! This spring at the faculty breakfast before graduation, I was honored with the Outstanding Adjunct Professor Award for 2017. I was absolutely giddy. I love the job, and it is so nice the faculty in my department appreciates my quirky ways. And, yes, I will be back!!

Signs of Summer...

My garden is really beautiful this summer. I have lots of flowers. The herbs are full and blooming as well as the vegetable garden. My raspberries are just gorgeous with plenty to eat and plenty to put away for the winter!

Storytelling with Lou Ann

Anniei's Attic is a wonderful week-long opportunity for students and teachers.

And, yes, I can call square dances!

I also am now in a small (very small band) Schmaltz and Blarney. We are available for hire. What makes us different is that we bring along song books! Give us a call!

Lou Ann and Goldilocks

Ocassionally Goldilocks makes it to the stage with Lou Ann. They really do look alike!

Lou Ann Homan portraying Gene Stratton-Porter

This is just one of my first person character shows!

A nice little bio...

Lou Ann Homan is a writer, a teacher, a storyteller and a lover of small towns. Her enthusiasm for teaching has graced Indiana classrooms for over 30 years and has been twice awarded the prestigious Lilly Teacher Creativity Award. She is currently a professor at Trine University in the Humanities and Communication Department.

Lou Ann is an award-winning columnist for KPC Media Group whose weekly column has appeared every Saturday morning for ten years in newspapers in all four counties in northern Indiana. In 2014 Lou Ann received the Mayor’s Arts and Humanities Award.

Lou Ann’s storytelling skills have twice brought her the Frank Basile Emerging Stories Fellowship grant, and two commissioned pieces from Indiana Landmarks. She has told stories on many Fringe Festival stages throughout the Midwest and has carried her from the green hills of Ireland to China, and from Florida to Arizona. She has been on the roster of Arts for Learning for many years and was awarded the Anna Award in 2015 for her outstanding plan for program enhancement.

When not traveling Lou Ann can be found in her hometown of Angola, Indiana where she is a member of the Historic Preservation Commission. She writes late into the night under a red frayed lamplight, gardens at the community gardens, celebrates and promotes cultural events, tell stories on the square and bikes her way around her small town!

She is delighted to bring you stories!

If you like I can send my blog to you every day on your email!

Lou Ann Homan

Click on the Photo to View a Sample of My Storytelling

Storyteller's Journal

Dear Folks,

Welcome to my world of storytelling, writing, and as you can see, dreamer of dreams. My storytelling has taken me to all sorts of locations around the country and in a few other countries. I have shows suitable for all ages and interests.

I do programs for teachers, for poets, for students, and for all who love the sound of language and words. I also am a Fringe Festival artist!

I also am a faculty member of Trine University where I teach writing and speech. I am a columnist for our local paper, The Herald Republican. My columns appear on Saturday and have been featured for nine years!

I am a traveler, a hobo, a drifter, a gatherer of tales, and a one-woman show. Thanks for taking the time to take a look. I would love to talk with you, share emails and blogs or even share a cup of tea in my lovely old house. Above all, I would love to share stories with you.

Lou Ann

Storytelling in Schools

Murder Mystery Weekends

Research Projects for your town

Scary Stories for the Autumn

Summer reading programs

Anne Bonny and other women pirates

Winter Woolies

Keynoting for schools

Workshops for students and teachers

Square Dance calling

Writing workshops

Poetry and Haiku workshops

Writing and directing of shows (especially murder mystery shows for middle school, have several to choose from. This is a weeklong residency.)

About Me

I am a storyteller, a theater coach, an actress, and a writer. When I am not traveling and gathering stories, you can find me writing late into the evening under the light of my old scarlet, frayed lamp. I am a believer in small towns in America and the blog is written to bring focus to them and to save them!
I also garden and am deeply aware of the environment and the issues. Please visit my blog often to share with me short stories that just happen, recipes, gardening, environmental preservation, books, photography and family, of course!